Cord twister



1967 D. J. VER MEULEN 3,392,330

CORD TWI STER Filed Sept. 11, 1964 INVENTOR. DAV/0 J V6? ME/JM'A/ QM'W United States 1 3,302,380 CORD TWllSTER David 1i. Ver Meulen, Grand Rapids, Mich, assignor to Saclrner Products, Inc., Grand Rapids, Mich, a corporation of Michigan Filed Sept. 11, 1964, Sen-No. 3%,808 7 Claims. (Cl. 5731) This invention relates to apparatus for twisting ribbon into a twisted strand, and more particularly to a device for continuously unwinding paper ribbon from a pancake reel and twisting it into a strand having a uniform twist over its length.

Twisted strands of paper or paper-like material are employed by weaving the strands into a fabric useful for many articles such as seat covers, for example. The paper initially is in the form of a ribbon strip wound into a large fiat reel conventionally known as a pancake reel. Conventionally it is unwound from the pancake and passed through a revolving twisting eye to form the twisted strand. Conventional twisting apparatus includes a revolving pan adapted to receive the pancake of a predetermined exact diameter with a press fit and rotate it adjacent a revolving twisting eye attached to the pan. The ribbon is pulled out of the center of the pancake and passed through the eye to form the strand. It cannot be unwound from the outer diameter because, firstly, the outer edge is tightly gripped by the pan, and secondly, the paper ribbon would have to be pulled around the reel edge to pass through the twisting eye, causing greater stress to be applied to the ribbon. Since the ribbon is pulled axially out of the center of the reel and fed directly into the eye, it is initially imparted with one twist for each turn from the reel even before passing through the twisting eye.

Moreover, since each turn of paper unwound is of larger diameter and therefore slightly longer than the preceding turns as the ribbon is pulled from larger and larger diameter portions of the reel, the number of initial twists in the ribbon decreases steadily per unit length. Further, the number of total twists per unit length in the strand is the sum of those intentionally imparted by the twisting eye and those inherently caused by pulling the ribbon axially from the reel. Therefore, since this latter number constantly varies, the total twisting rate per unit length varies over the length of the strand. This variation prevents uniformity over the length of the twisted strand. Moreover, each time a new pancake reel is inserted, the twist rate takes a sharp jump from the previous strand portion just formed.

Another limitation with this prior type apparatus and method is the limited diameter of the pancake reel that can be accommodated during twisting. Therefore, the reels must necessarily be replaced fairly often due to their small size, as is well known. This involves a considerable amount of downtime to insert new reels and rethread the ribbons through the mechanism.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide ribbon twisting apparatus capable of forming a twisted strand with a uniform number of twists per unit length over the entire length of the strand, regardless of which part of the pancake the ribbon is taken from. There are no initial twists inherently resulting from the apparatus and method to cause a variation over the length of the strand. The twisting rate is controlled, therefore, solely by the rate of twist of the twisting eye, and the rate of the ribbon travel through the eye, both of which are controllable factors.

It is another object of this invention to provide a ribbon twisting apparatus capable of accommodating pancake reels of great size. Furthermore, reels of various sizes can be employed one after the other without any Patent C modification of the equipment. The pancake is not unwound from the inside out either, because there is nothing gripping the outer periphery, and ribbon from the outer periphery is uniquely aligned with the twisting eye. Moreover, the ribbon is not twisted as it comes off from the reel to cause localized concentrated stresses at the twist.

It is another object of this invention to provide a paper strand twisting apparatus capable of simultaneously handling large pancake reels, and of twisting the ribbon into a strand having a uniform number of twists per unit length over the entire length of the strand.

These and other objects of this invention will be apparent upon studying the following specification in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational sectional view of prior art apparatus;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational sectional view of the novel apparatus; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the novel apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

Basically, the inventive apparatus comprises a freely revolvable pancake-supporting turntable, a twisting eye mounted above and coaxial with the turntable, a ribbon guide tube having an outlet end adjacent the eye and an inlet eye adjacent the outer periphery of the pancake reel and mounted on bearings to revolve around the turntable, and drive means to rotate the tube causing it to pull ribbon off the reel and accelerate it while guiding it to the twisting eye, and to rotate the eye to twist the ribbon into a paper strand.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the inventive apparatus ill in FIGS. 2 and 3 replaces the prior art apparatus 11 in FIG. 1.

The prior art apparatus 11 typically includes a housing 13 having a pan 15 at its upper end, a guide sheath 17 in the center, and a conventional twisting eye 19 affixed to the lower portion 13 of the housing. The pancaketype ribbon reel 21 is conventionally forced into the pan by a friction fit with the outer periphery of the reel. The paper ribbon 23 is pulled axially out of the center of the reel as illustrated and passes down through the twisting eye 19. The entire apparatus is spun using a common drive means (not shown) so that the reel is turned at the same number of revolutions per minute as the twisting eye. After ribbon 23 is twisted into a strand 23', the strand passes around a capstan drive 25 to a winding mechanism (not shown). Theoretically, the twist per unit length in the strand 23' is dependent upon the rate of turning of twisting eye 19 and the gate of linear speed of the ribbon through the twisting eye. However, as is well known, and as is obvious, since ribbon 23 is pulled axially out of the center of reel 21, and since the ribbon is wound in the reel, each turn, i.e., 360, of the ribbon on the reel causes one initial twist 2.7 in the ribbon before it reaches the twisting eye 19. Further, since the length of ribbon per turn or 360 in the reel constantly increases as the ribbon is pulled from larger and larger diameter portions of the pancake reel, these twists become further and further apart so that the twisted strand does not have a uniform rate of twist over its length. Further, since the reel must be revolved rapidly in the pan 15, its size is definitely limited before excessive vibration and instability result.

In contrast to this prior art, the apparatus 10 in FIGS. 2 and 3 includes a turntable or platform 12 having a suitable axle 14 mounted in a support 16. Bearings 18 cause the turntable to be freely rotatable. This turntable receives a wound pancake reel 21, with the center of the reel being fitted over a hub 20.

Positioned coaxially with shaft 14 is a twisting eye 22 preferably afiixed to a support housing 24 attached to a 3 circular belt driven platform or base 26. This platform may be partially supported on suitable bearings 28 in fixed support means 3t The belt drive means includes a suitable motor 32, a drive pulley 34, and belt 36 passing around the circular platform 26.

Afiixed to the lower side of platform 26 and over an opening 34!- in the platform, is a hollow guide tube or sheath 36. The upper end of this tube is coaxial with twisting eye 22 and turntable axle 14. It is mounted in suitable bearings 40 (FIG. 3) to stabilize the tube and allow it to rotate with the housing and twisting eye. Obviously, this bearing support assembly may be modified in several ways, as may the specific form of the housing and/ or connection between the tube and the twisting eye. For example, the twisting eye may be fastened directly to the upper end of the tube instead of spaced therefrom, provided the outlet end 44 of the tube is aligned with the twisting eye.

The lower end of tube 36 diverges radially outwardly from the axis of rotation, and has its inlet end faced radially inwardly toward the periphery of platform 12 and a pancake reel 21 mounted thereon. Thus, as the tube rotates, its inlet mouth circumscribes the other periphery of the reel to pull ribbon 50 therefrom and accelerate it to a linear speed as the ribbon moves radially outwardly. Since the ribbon moves directly away from the adjacent ribbon still on the reel, no frictional drag occurs between adjacent layers of paper as one is pulled off. The ribbon is guided radially inwardly by the tube to align it exactly with the axis of the twisting eye. The ribbon passes through opening 34 and into the twisting eye 22, where it is continuously twisted into strand form 50. The strand is pulled through this assembly by a conventional, constant linear speed capstan drive sheave 52, or its equivalent, operated by a suitable motor 54, and passed to a winding mechanism, (not shown) or to some other mechanism using these twisted strands.

Since the mechanism removes the ribbon from the outer periphery of the reel at a radial direction through the rotating tube to the rotating eye, no initial twists are formed in the apparatus as with the prior art type structure. Therefore, the twist rate per unit length is determined only by the linear speed of the ribbon and the rate of twisting eye revolution.

To be noted is the free-wheeling nature of the pancake turntable 26. Normally, the capstan drive 52, 54 pulls the strand through at a steady linear speed rate. The twisting eye and tube are also revolved at a constant rate. Therefore, the inlet tube mouth moves at a constant angular rate. However, since the length of ribbon removed from the reel is smaller with each revolution of the tube mouth due to the ribbon removal from a smaller diameter portion of the pancake reel, while the linear rate over the capstan is constant, accommodation must be made to enable the paper ribbon to be removed from the pancake at a steady rate to give the desired uniform twist. Consequently, axle 14 is rotatably mounted in the bearing support 16 so that the reel itself can automatically rotate varying amounts in the same direction as the tube rotation, to accommodate the steadily decreasing diameter of the reel.

The tube rotates in the direction of the ribbon wind on the pancake, i.e., if the ribbon is wound clockwise on the pancake, the direction of tube rotation is clockwise, and vice versa. Thus, the tube pulls the ribbon off and causes the pancake to rotate. If the ribbon extends up through the tube, and the tube is spinning, but no ribbon is being unwound from the pancake, the angular velocity of the pancake will equal the angular velocity of the tube mouth. When ribbon is being removed, the pancakes angular velocity will be greater than the angular velocity of the tube mouth which determines the rate of ribbon removal. Since the pancake is freely rotatable, its angular velocity will readily vary to accommodate the rate 4 of ribbon withdrawal desired and achieved by capstan 52.

As the pancake diameter decreases during operation, and its peripheral speed remains constant, its rotational speed constantly increases accordingly.

Thus the mechanism always dispenses the same amount of ribbon length per unit of time and per tube revolution, so that completely uniform twist is imparted to the ribbon over its entire length, no matter from which portion of the reel the ribbon is taken. Consequently, the strand will always have the same characteristics of strength and appearance no matter how many different reels are used, or what the size of the reels. A reel of very large diameter can readily be accommodated, thereby decreasing the total amount of down-time caused to replace pancake reels and rethread the ribbon through the mechanism. Moreover, since the outside diameter of the reel is no longer critical, reels of any size may be mounted in succession on the turntable.

In operation, therefore, motor 54 (with any appropriate gear mechanism) drives capstan disc 52 at the desired rate of speed while motor 32 is operated to rotate platform 26, twisting eye 22, and tube 36 at a desired rate of angular velocity. After the ribbon is manually threaded through the mechanism, rotating tube 36 constantly pulls, accelerates and guides the ribbon from the pancake reel periphery, through the inlet end 66 of the tube 36. Capstan drive 52 constantly pulls the ribbon through the tube out the axial outlet 44, opening 34 in platform 26, through the twisting eye. As the diameter of ribbon reel 21' becomes smaller and smaller, turntable 12 begins to rotate with increasing angular velocity to cause the take-off to be at a constant linear rate, thereby imparting a uniform twist to the strand since the linear speed through the twisting eye is constant and the speed of the twisting eye remains constant.

Certain obvious structural modifications can be made in the apparatus while employing the inventive principles taught. These obvious modifications are therefore deemed to be part of this invention, which is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims and the reasonably equivalent structures and methods to those defined therein.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for continuously twisting a reel of ribbon into a strand comprising: rotatable support means for a ribbon reel; a twisting eye mounted adjacent said support means and adapted to be spun to twist said ribbon into a strand; a ribbon guide having an outlet aligned with said twisting eye, and an inlet oriented radially toward the periphery of a reel mounted on said support means; said guide being rotatably mounted; and drive means to cause revolving of said guide around said reel to pull off ribbon for twisting by said twisting eye.

2. Apparatus for continuously twisting a reel of ribbon into a strand comprising: support means for a ribbon reel; said support means being mounted to revolve; a twisting eye mounted adjacent said support means and adapted to be spun to twist said ribbon into a strand; a ribbon guide having an outlet aligned with said twisting eye, and an inlet oriented radially toward the periphery of a reel mounted on said support means; said guide being rotatably mounted; and drive means to cause relative turning between said guide and support to pull off ribbon for twisting by said twisting eye.

3. Apparatus for twisting a ribbon into a strand, comprising: a turntable mounted to freely revolve, and adapted to support a pancake reel of ribbon; a twisting eye mounted to be spun in a position spaced from said turntable; strand pulling means adjacent said twisting eye to pull a ribbon through said eye to twist it into a strand; a ribbon guiding sheath positioned with an inlet end adjacent the periphery of said turntable and adjacent the pancake mounted thereon, and the outlet end in axial operative alignment with said twisting eye; said tube being mounted to rotate to cause said inlet end to revolve around said turntable; and drive means to spin said twisting eye, and rotate said tube, whereby ribbon is constantly pulled off a pancake and accelerated, and then guidingly pulled through said tube to said spinning eye to form a strand having uniform twist over its length.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said twisting eye and tube are connected, and both are driven by the same drive means.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said twisting eye, revolving tube, and turntable are coaxial.

6. Apparatus for providing uniform twist to a ribbon comprising: three elements revolvably mounted on a common axis, including a twisting eye, a pancake-supporting turntable, and a guide conduit therebetween; said turntable being freely rotatable, said eye and con duit being operably connected to drive means to be forcibly rotated; said guide conduit having its upper outlet end on said axis adjacent said eye; the lower portion of said tube being oriented radially away from said axis with its lower inlet end directed toward the periphery of said turntable to receive ribbon ofr the outside of a pancake reel thereon.

7. Apparatus for continuously twisting paper ribbon into a strand comprising: means to support a pancake paper ribbon reel in a freely rotatable manner; means to pull ribbon oil the outer periphery of said reel while moving along said 'outer periphery to accelerate the ribbon radially outwardly to a predetermined velocity; guide means to orient said accelerated ribbon toward twisting means; twisting means to form a strand of said ribbon; and ribbon pulling means to pull said accelerated ribbon through said guide means and twisting means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,671,425 5/1928 Heany 57--31 2,051,674 8/1936 Barnum 57-31 2,844,334 7/1958 Luth 242-128 2,880,305 3/1959 Baird 242-128 3,010,674 11/1961 Dull et al. 242-428 3,058,689 10/1962 Luth 242-428 FOREIGN PATENTS 300,167 10/ 1919 Germany. 316,068 11/1919 Germany.

6,926 of 1905 Great Britain. 11,001 of 1913 Great Britain.

FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

25 D. E. WATKINS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR CONTINUOUSLY TWISTING A REEL OF RIBBON INTO A STRAND COMPRISING: ROTATABLE SUPPORT MEANS FOR A RIBBON REEL; A TWISTING EYE MOUNTED ADJACENT SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND ADAPTED TO BE SPUN TO TWIST SAID RIBBON INTO A STRAND; A RIBBON GUIDE HAVING AN OUTLET ALIGNED WITH SAID TWISTING EYE, AND AN INLET ORIENTED RADIALLY TOWARD THE PERIPHERY OF A REEL MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS; SAID GUIDE BEING ROTATABLY MOUNTED; AND DRIVE MEANS TO CAUSE REVOLVING OF SAID GUIDE AROUND SAID REEL TO PULL OFF RIBBON FOR TWISTING BY SAID TWISTING EYE. 